This blog deals with my search for truth and meaning in life - poems I've written over the years, essays, thoughts on the nature of reality and short stories as an outlet for my creativity and spirituality, as well as other words of inspiration that I would like to share. Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach is one of my favourite books. The Seagull is the source of my inspiration. I hope you enjoy it!

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

“They are saying in the Flock that if you are not the Son of the Great Gull Himself”, Fletcher told Jonathan one morning after Advanced Speed Practice, “then you are a thousand years ahead of your time.”Jonathan sighed. The price of being misunderstood he thought. They call you devil or they call you god. “What do you think, Fletch? Are we ahead of our time?” A long silence, “Well, this kind of flying has always been here to be learned by anyone who wanted to discover it; that’s got nothing to do with time. We’re ahead of the fashion, maybe. Ahead of the way that most gulls fly.”“That’s something,” Jonathan said, rolling to glide inverted for a while. “That’s not half as bad as being ahead of our time”.Richard BachJonathan Livingston Seagull

Friday, January 17, 2014

Purcell's Ode to Saint Cecillia where he glorifies the music of the universe in motion....

The full piece

And part 6:

"Thou tun'st this World below, the Spheres above,
Who in the Heavenly Round to their own Music move."

With thanks and appreciation to Mayesvara das.

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_St._Cecilia_(Purcell)

2. Hail! Bright Cecilia, Hail! fill ev'ry Heart!With Love of thee and thy Celestial Art;That thine and Musick's Sacred LoveMay make the British Forest proveAs Famous as Dodona's Vocal Grove.3. Hark! hark! each Tree its silence breaks,The Box and Fir to talk begin!This is the sprightly ViolinThat in the Flute distinctly speaks!'Twas Sympathy their list'ning Brethren drew,When to the Thracian Lyre with leafy Wings they flew.4. 'Tis Natures's Voice; thro' all the moving WoodOf Creatures understood:The Universal Tongue to noneOf all her num'rous Race unknown!From her it learnt the mighty ArtTo court the Ear or strike the Heart:At once the Passions to express and move;We hear, and straight we grieve or hate, rejoice or love:In unseen Chains it does the Fancy bind;At once it charms the Sense and captivates the Mind5. Soul of the World! Inspir'd by thee,The jarring Seeds of Matter did agree,Thou didst the scatter'd Atoms bind,Which, by thy Laws of true proportion join'd,Made up of various Parts one perfect Harmony.6. Thou tun'st this World below, the Spheres above,Who in the Heavenly Round to their own Music move.7. With that sublime Celestial LayCan any Earthly Sounds compare?If any Earthly Music dare,The noble Organ may.From Heav'n its wondrous Notes were giv'n,(Cecilia oft convers'd with Heaven,)Some Angel of the Sacred ChoireDid with his Breath the Pipes inspire;And of their Notes above the just Resemblance gave,Brisk without Lightness, without Dulness Grave.8. Wondrous Machine!To thee the Warbling Lute,Though us'd to Conquest, must be forc'd to yield:With thee unable to dispute.9. The Airy ViolinAnd lofty Viol quit the Field;In vain they tune their speaking StringsTo court the cruel Fair, or praise Victorious Kings.Whilst all thy consecrated LaysAre to more noble Uses bent;And every grateful Note to Heav'n repaysThe Melody it lent.10. In vain the Am'rous Flute and soft Guitarr,Jointly labour to inspireWanton Heat and loose Desire;Whilst thy chaste Airs do gentle moveSeraphic Flames and Heav'nly Love.11. The Fife and all the Harmony of War,In vain attempt the Passions to alarm,Which thy commanding Sounds compose and charm.12. Let these amongst themselves contest,Which can discharge its single Duty best.Thou summ'st their diff'ring Graces up in One,And art a Consort of them All within thy Self alone.13. Hail! Bright Cecilia, Hail to thee!Great Patroness of Us and Harmony!Who, whilst among the Choir aboveThou dost thy former Skill improve,With Rapture of Delight dost seeThy Favourite ArtMake up a PartOf infinite Felicity.Hail! Bright Cecilia, Hail to thee!Great Patroness of Us and Harmony!